Album Review
In a musical sense, the first full-length solo release by L. Abramson is not particularly original or compelling — Cat Power and Joni Mitchell, for example, have explored the same sonic landscapes to great effect. Despite this, Bedroom/City reveals an artist of intelligence and sensitivity, whose adept lyricism and emotional honesty make Bedroom/City a subtle delight. Her constant tone is one of quiet intensity — opening with the melancholic "Six months or a Year," she yearns to "disappear, move far when she is near, F**k your blues away, reveal it to her while in tears." "Hallmark Poultry Ltd." laments her prostitute-ridden East Vancouver neighborhood, overwhelmed by the stench of a hated chicken slaughterhouse; while other songs explore similar themes of loss, suicide, the feeling of being trapped — all downbeat and serious. Despite the darkness of the subject matter, though, this is not a sad recording; overall it has a lighter tone than the themes would suggest. Her rootsy musical explorations with Dyad (her regular band, an American traditionalist folk trio) gives her an understanding of instrumentation that lifts mood — piano, low fiddle, and even kazoo add a sense of optimism to her sweet, sad voice and resonant hollow-body guitar. Atmospheric and assured, there is quiet charm to be found in Bedroom/City.
